In the early days of Ange Postecoglou's rebuilding job, captain Callum McGregor lifted the League Cup in December 2021 after two goals by Kyogo Furuhashi brought Celtic from behind to beat Hibernian at Hampden. It was the sixth time they had won the trophy in eight seasons.

McGregor said: "I think when we first got together as a group last season the talk externally was, 'it's a transition year, it's a transition year', but nobody was talking about that inside the building.

"We were fully focused on trying to build this team as quickly as we could and, let's not kid ourselves on, if we weren't successful in the first season we might not be sitting here.

"That's the level of scrutiny that is at this club. You have to be successful and you have to win. We knew that when we were building a new team we had to win quickly."

Willie Collum is the referee for the first of the semi-finals, assisted by Dougie Potter and Gordon Crawford. The fourth official is Grant Irvine.

In VAR world, Greg Aitken is the man in charge, with John McCrossan his assistant.

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Garry Hay, a League Cup winner with Kilmarnock in 2012, is urging the current crop of Kilmarnock players to "be brave" against Celtic.

Hay, who made over 300 appearances for the Ayrshire side, said the triumph was "the single greatest feeling ever felt on a football pitch".

"Believe in yourself and be brave," he tells the Kilmarnock players.

"Brave isn’t going smashing into tackles, but being brave is about getting on the ball, helping out your teammates, working hard for one another, and I am sure that is what they’ll do.

"The players will give their absolute all since it’s such a huge occasion. It’s a huge task that they have got but they’ve got to have that belief and bravery and if they have that, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance."

Recalling the 1-0 victory over Celtic in 2012, which delivered the sole silverware Hay won with Killie, he said it was "just sheer joy".

"When you’re a little boy down the park, playing football with your friends, the games that you play and you dream about playing in cup finals, winning trophies and all these other things, to finally realise that at the end-stage of your career, it’s a special moment."

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Kilmarnock's only slip-up in the Viaplay Cup group stage ended up costing them top spot and a seeding for the knockout rounds.

Derek McInnes' team defeated Fraserburgh, Montrose and Stenhousemuir, but drew with Partick Thistle - then missed out on a bonus point after losing the shootout - to qualify as runners-up to the Firhill men.

That opened a tough route for Killie, but they pulled off one of their best performances of the season to stun Hearts 1-0 at Tynecastle - a happy hunting ground for the Ayrshire side in recent years - thanks to Innes Cameron's header.

Next came a quarter-final at home to another top-flight rival, Dundee United, where not for the first time this season Danny Armstrong, reinstated to the team today, emerged as Killie's hero.

After Kyle Lafferty's early penalty was cancelled out by a Glenn Middleton strike, Armstrong nodded in Jordan Jones' dinked cross to secure victory.

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Kilmarnock fans might like to look away now. The stats don't augur well, but cup football is all about shocks, a chance for the underdogs, right?

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It's been smooth and goal-laden progress so far for the League Cup holders.

A tricky opening assignment in Dingwall was safely negotiated as first-half goals from Callum McGregor and Giorgos Giakoumakis sent Celtic on their way against Ross County.

Alex Iacovitti halved the deficit but the visitors hit back through Daizen Maeda before James Forrest's last-minute strike capped the 4-1 win.

Even better was to come in the quarter-final where Celtic thrashed Motherwell 4-0 at Fir Park.

It took until a minute before half-time to break the hosts' resistance, with Liel Abada tapping in.

The Irsael winner netted another after the break before Reo Hatate showed fantastic footwork to add the third and Kyogo Furuhashi wrapped things up.

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Cammy Bell is urging Kilmarnock to "believe in themselves" when they take to the Hampden turf against Celtic in their League Cup semi-final.

Bell, who was man of the match in the 2012 final, insists Kilmarnock have players that "can hurt Celtic".

"Go and believe you can win this game of football because, ultimately, a lot of people had written us of in 2012, but we believed as a group and I’m pretty sure Derek McInnes’ group will as well," the former goalkeeper said.

"I’ve seen them this season, they’ve got very good players, they’ve got players who can hurt Celtic. It will be difficult, they need to play at nines and 10s, every single player."

The BBC Sport Scotland pundit was a hero between the sticks nearly 11 years ago and he encourages the current crop to enjoy the experience.

"When you walk onto that pitch, suck in that atmosphere and turn it into a real positive.

"If Kilmarnock and McInnes get their tactics right – with a little bit of luck along the way – they can win this game of football. I’ve no doubt in my mind, but they need to believe that when they walk onto the pitch.”

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This is the first League Cup meeting between Celtic and Kilmarnock since the Ayrshire side, then managed by Kenny Shiels, won 1-0 at Hampden in the 2012 final.

However, Celtic won their semi-final meeting in 2000 - and the final in 2001.

Kilmarnock lifted the League Cup for the only time thanks to Dieter van Tornhout's goal against Celtic in that 2012 final.

In stark contrast, Celtic won the competition for a 20th time by beating Hibs in last season's final.

Will Killie repeat their 2012 giant killing? Click thumbs up below for yes, click thumbs down for no.

• Hampden heroes relive 2012 triumph

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Celtic are hot favourites and if Celtic get that first goal I think they will go on and win the game. But it's a cup tie. Kilmarnock have changed the system a little bit, different players, with Kyle Lafferty up front and Danny Armstrong, who is a good player. It really depends what they do with Callum McGregor. Callum will find space and if he does that Celtic will have loads of the ball. Celtic won't change the way they play.

Everything points to a win for holders Celtic at Hampden considering 38 points and eight places separate the sides in the Premiership.

Ange Postecoglou's Scottish champions are unbeaten in nine outings overall, while Kilmarnock have just two wins in their latest nine.

Indeed, Celtic are unbeaten in 11 meetings with Kilmarnock, winning 10, since a 2-1 loss at Rugby Park in September 2018.

Saturday's 2-0 success in Glasgow in the Premiership was their fourth victory in a row over the Ayrshire side.

Kilmarnock midfielder Rory McKenzie was coming through the ranks when the Ayrshire club beat Celtic 1-0 in the League Cup final at Hampden Park in 2012.

He recalled of Dieter Van Tornhout's winning goal: "There were a bunch of youth-team lads there and we were in the corner where Lee Johnson put the cross in so they came and celebrated and we were right down the front.

"That was a fantastic day. Nobody gave us a chance and it's a day I remember. I wasn't part of the celebrations after but by all accounts it was a good night."

Of the task in hand this evening, he said: "I think you need to cling on to a lot of things. We know the task in hand. We've watched enough of Celtic to know how good they are, we played against them on Saturday so we're well aware. You need Celtic to have an off day. They're that good a team that you need everything to go your way."

Speculation about players leaving isn't ideal for a club in a cup semi-final, but Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou insists there has been no adverse reaction to Croatia right-back Josip Juranovic and Greece striker Giorgos Giakoumakis being linked to a host of clubs.

"The nature of the business is there is speculation for the whole of January," Postecoglou said.

"From my perspective, I don't really think about it unless it comes to me. Usually when it comes to me, it means there is something there.

"We haven't had anything like that for any player up until this point, everyone is totally focused on the game. There is no feeling of any instability or uncertainty in the group. They are training hard."

Dumbarton miss a chance to stretch their lead at the top after losing away to Forfar with second-top Stirling's game at Bonnyrigg having been postponed.

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Dunfermline stay seven points clear at the top of the third tier after thumping bottom side Peterhead.

Falkirk are now their nearest challengers after beating second-bottom Clyde.

They overtake Edinburgh, who lost away to Alloa.

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Queen's Park remain four points clear at the top of the second tier despite a goalless stalemate in Inverness.

Second-top Ayr were also held in a thriller at home to Arbroath.

Hamilton move to within four of the second-bottom Red Lichties after beating Morton.

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Livingston's fine win in Perth moves David Martindale's side to within four points of third-top Hearts again.

Hibs miss a chance to overtake St Mirren into sixth after being held at home by Dundee United, who move above Kilmarnock into third bottom on goal difference.

Ross County remain three points behind United and Motherwell after their draw at Fir Park.

Kevin Nisbet's stunning goal saves Hibs.

A sickener for United, who led for the vast majority of this game.

Despite a spirited comeback, Livingston make it five defeats in a row for St Johnstone in the Premiership.

Stephen Kelly's double put Livi into a then-comfortable position before James Penrice's third gave the visitors a three-goal cushion at the break.

Callum Davidson rung the changes at the break and they almost worked, with Jamie Murphy and Connor McLennan trying to set up a comeback.

But Penrice lashed in his second and Livingston's fourth to seal the points.

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